Umbilical clamp tool



Sept..4, 192s. 1,683,119

C. E. ZIEGLER 1 UMBILI CAL CLAMP TOOL Filed Sept. 21, 1927 WITNESSES 4 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED. STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

CHARLES E. zIEGLEn, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

UMBILICAL CLAMP TOOL.

Application filed September 21, 1927. Serial No. 220,915.

ment by means of which the hole is dis-.

tended sufficiently to receive the cord stump and the disc then automatically released to compress the stump at. the exact place desired.

Obstetricians are pretty generally agreed that a mechanically acting clamp is more dependable and moreeffective than is the ligature when applied to the umbilical cord. The clamp eliminates all possibility of sec,- ondary hemorrhage and by rapidly removing all moisture from the crushed tissues hastens mummification and separation of the stump, while at the same time minimizing umbilical infection since without moisture facterial growth is impossible. The clamp by narrowing the umbilical ring and acting as an umbilical compress also promotes ventral closure and the prevention of umbilical hernia in the new-born.

Rubber discs or buttons with an aperture therethrough for receiving the cord and heavy enough to exert the desired pressure upon the cord are among the means suggested for this purpose, because they are readily sterilized, inexpensive, capable of eifectively performing the clamping and because they are not likely to produce mechanical irritation. Furthermore, when such a disc clamp is applied to a cord gauze may be readily packed between the disc and the body of the infant in such a manner as to effectively hold the severed end of the cord away from the body of the infant.

Such discs when strong enough to be effective are not readily applied to a cord, and the object of the invention is to provide a tool which can be used to expand the aperture in such a disc and after the cord has been inserted therein to automatically strip it from the tool onto the cord.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 shows a side view of the tool with a disc in place ready for expansion; Fig. 2 a front view of the tool; Fig. 3' a section on line III-III of the view shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 to6 views illustrating the operation of the tool;

Fig. 7 a front Vim-i a. disc before h. cation to-the tool; and Fig." 8 a front View of the expanded disc shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to thedrawings, the illustra-v tive embodiment comprises a pair of handles 1 and 2, shapedto form jaws 3'and 4, which are pivoted in links 5 and 6. The pivoted, aws are formed. to receive a reciprocating slidable jaw 7 connected at its opposite.- end between toggle joint links 8 and. 9 attached respectively to handles 1 and 2. One of the jaw pivoting links is extended as shown in Fig. 2 to form an elongated shank portion 6 the sides of which are'formed to provide a guide channel and support 10 for jaw member 7, to prevent wobbling thereof. Discreceiving prongs 11, 12, and 13 are provided on the jaws, preferably in such a manner that they are situated at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. The outer portions of the prongs are parellel to each other for a distance equal to the thickness of the discs so that a disc may be readily engaged by them, and the ends of the prongs are rounded or tapered inwardly so that a disc may be readily snapped from the prongs in the manner present to be explained. The disc is made from an elastic material, such as high grade rubber, and is designed to exert suflicient pressure upon the cord to accomplish its result. This effect is attained by making the disc of relatively heavy section, and by making the aperture sufliciently smaller than the cord which it receives that it will exert a heavy and constant pressure upon the cord.

The operation of the device is as follows: After a disc has been forced over the prongs, as shown in Fig. 1, the handles are com pressed, expanding .jaws 3 and 4 and depresing jaw 7 the prongs being uniformly extended from each other and simultaneously distending aperture 15, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. As the aperture is being distended the disc buckles and its edges are forced by the operators'free hand to turn towards the base of the prongs, so that when opening 15 has been expanded sufficiently the disc is convex outwardly as shown in Fig. 4, and cannot spring from the prongs. The severed umbilical cord 16 is now passed through the distended aperture and the jaws returned to their closed position, resulting in the condition shown in Fig. 5. The edges of the disc are now pushed outwardly to the position shownin dotted lines, and the bandles compressed slightly to open the jaws, thereby setting up in the disc stresses which .urge it toward theextended ends of the {yaw-opening movement after the disc has en deflected outwardly. 2. :A tool for a plyin'g an 1 umbilical cord 0 amp compri ng in comprongs, and these ends being rounded the--bination--a pair of handles, expandingljaws disc snaps ofi from. thepro s and contracts, around the infants umbilica cord, a disc in integral ,with the ends oi sald han es, a link pivotal connection between said jaws,

the process of snapping off being shownin a disposed between said expand- Fig. 6.

Iclaim: a

1. A tool for applying an apertured disc umbilical cord clamp comprising in combina-= tion a pair of pivoted jaws, handlesactua ing said jaws -a third jaw adapted to reciprocatevbetween said ivoted jawg-atoggle joint actuatin saidit irdqawand'connected: towsaid hand es, andprongs-diposedon all Ofsaid jaws, said prongs having end portions arallel to each othenfor-a distance equal: tot e thicknessofi said discand "adapted to engage the aperture therein and to maintain :the disc thereon; when deflected inwardly towardisaid jawswhen said jaws are 1 opened, and having rounded ends Ito efl'ect removal of the disc upon -a subsequenting jaws, said link being formed to provide aguideiorisaiid; i jaw, a toggle 'joint connected to said handles and to said sliding jaw--for actuation oii saids. jaw; 1 prongs disposed on all 0f said 'jawa usaid pgonga having send porti0ns'.-pa;tal1clto cach othen; for a distanceequal twitheithiclmess of gestured disc disc andadapted I to: engage a the apei tumtherein and.- Etc, maintaim --disc-themem when deflected. inwardly towandrsaid jaws when jaws are opensdt" and heving roundedmndsl T to effect removal {oithe uent jww cpenin movemjent 

